Suction device with burner means for exterminating insects



C. DILLON SUCTION DEVICE WITH BURNER MEANS Aug. 26, .1952 2,608,023

y FOR EXTERMINATING, INsEcTsA Filed May '7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Claude Dil/on INVENTOR.

B'Y ma gi/"wm :sf/hm Aug. 26, 1952 C.. m-LLQN 2,608,023

. sUcTIoN DEVICE WITH BURNER MEANS l.

FOR EXTERMLNATING INSEG-Ts 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1948 Claude D /lon IN VENTOR.

Aug. 26, 1952 c. DILLON l2160810223 SUCTION ADEVICE WITH BURNER MEANS FOR EXTERMINATING INsEcTs C. DILLON SUCTION DEVICE WITH BURNER MEANS FOR EXTERMINATING INSECTS Aug. 26, 1952 Smets-sheet; 4

Filed May 7,- 1948 Fig/6.

Claude D i//on IN VENTOR.

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STMES PATgN'roFFHCE ysUc'rIoN DEVICE vvrrH-:nRNER'lviEAnsA ron'EXTEnMiNATINGINsnoTs v A 1 This invention relates to an insect exterminatingdevice andfhas for itsy primary object to re-` move insects from row. and sown plants and crops, without damage to the plantsor crops.v

-Another important'objectv of this invention is to exterminate the insects which are -removed from the plantsA and to discard the insectsback on the ground. y y

Another object of this invention is to providean insect removing and exterminating device which is'easily attached to a conventional f armrfpowered unit and drafted thereby over the ground inf contact with the crops. Another object of this invention is to provide an-insect exterminating attachment for a conventional tractor, which is operated or powered off the crankshaft of the tractor and which is adjustable to assume various heights in relation to the crop-s and plants.

A meritorious feature of this'invention resides in the provision of means for withdrawing orref movinginsects fromrcrops and for exterminating the-insects and conveying thempbackontothe ground,A all of the foregoingoperations being suc up tube -which isadapted toy overlie thecrops and plants, the same being adjustable and which *is communicated with burner units,rmounted on Athe tractorfso that insects drawn-upthrough the tube are conveyed to the `burnerunitfand exterminated. .y

Still another important feature ofy this .inventionvresides in the provision of anv attachment'fr a1 tractor, adaptable for use as a supportY lfor .blower units, the blower units being V'powered off Athe crankshaft of thel tractor and adaptedto .re-

move bugs ork insects from the ,crops by .suction and to convey them rto burner units, ,where` the bugs are e'xterminated.

A further important feature ofzthis invention resides inV the provision of blower outlets for the blown directly on I the ground, and thus" the 'need for a container'or the like is obvi'ated and elimihated.

" 'lfiese'andv ancillary objects and other-'meri'- vcuriousA features are attainedjby this-invention, Aa preferred'embo'diment offwhichis setfortlr-in the following description and illustrated-in Atlle "accompanying drawings,v wherein:

`Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conventional vfarm tractor, showingv this invention' operatively 'associatedand attached therewith; f'

of the blower burners.

'Clade'Dillon,Dextei-,Nflvlex ,y y -AvplicnionMay i, 1948,1.seria1Neles-685l ricains@ (crfianiim y Vl'jigu're 2 is alside'lelevational view of this ini/ enf tion, vs ln'iwing the same in attachment' witliza tfatf f -Fgule .iS-.fearrelefatonl View? a 4 Figure 4 iS fview-iii,perspfitivefof'ihe,eine@ ing platform, .adapted t0. the easily and VA,quickly attached to a conventional 4tract'orI and'utiliz'ed vto support-ak pluralityof blower burner units; K'

ligure 5 isa vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 5-5 in- Figure 4; vFgure/Gis a lcrossY sectional view taken online s1- ofriguregi;

` igure 7 is a perspective View of the inletftube;I rFigure 8 isV an enlarged fragmentary elevational viewfofv. the means vprovided for powering lthe burner units and is taken on vtheV line 8i-'8. of Figure 1, looking in the directionA of the arrows; and

Figure.gfsasectionalview of oneof the burner I ur'iits."V Y. J'z This invention; refers particularly tofa .drafted attachment for .a conventionalfarm powered funt ,and serves to remove insects `from plants i and crops-in such a positive mannerthat damage vtothe iplants from the insects or from the attachl ment is obviated. I 't isa fundamental purpose'fof this invention tofenable the entire operationlof removing.' exterminatingf.v and disposing of" the insects and bugs to bes'uccessively performed by one -machine or" attachment, responsive to .move- ,inentof avpowered unit over'the' 'grounds Accordingly, this invention aims to provide a device forperforming, uponv movement ofthe tractor. the successve'operations of creating a suction and removing bugs from the plants by meansl of the suction, ponve'ying the bugs to heated blower livriits andadvancing the `bugs onto the' ground. aftenlexte'rininatiod In vorder-ftd enable Vthe a;i tac h rnentV t o be employed to full use and 'adv'antage",Y it has been proposed lto adjust'ably mountA the unitary assembly and various componentsthereof, adjustable 4relativetc) the powered unitand adjustablerelative to otherL components. While Ythe inajorityjof similar attachments and units are operated from'the power'takefoifshaft orgunit ofajtractor,Y it has'been deemed more Afeasible to provide a novel operating sinssembly rfor this invention, in order to maintain a constant and steady operation` Thus, the sameis powered oifthe crankshaftg so'that the process of starting and shifting gears does not affectthe operation Referring now' more particularly to the drawings,- wherein similar characters ofN reference vdesignate zzorrespending'` parts throughc'jut,V this invention; generally Vdesignatedrl'c'y the character duit'to be easily moved over the acospe reference I0, is shown in operative association with a conventional farm powered unit, such as atractor I2. The tractor serves to power and draft the insect exterminating attachment and the various adjustments of the attachment and the operation thereof may be readily and easily controlled by the operator of the tractor from his ordinary and normal seated position on th tractor seat.

In carrying out this invention, there is provided a supporting frame I4, with reference toA Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. The supporting frame I4 comprises a, pair of parallel bars 6 and I8. secured to the opposite ends of the parallelbars I6 and |'8 by suitable securing means, such as rivets or bolts 24. ends bent downwardly in lateral fashion defining hanger straps 26 and 28. tends beyond the bar 281 and has a series of vertically spaced adjusting apertures 3 0 provided therein. A rod 32 extends between-theopposedY strap end 28 of the bars 20 and 22 and is secured at each end within suitableapertures formed in the terminating portionsoflthe strap ends. An

intake assembly 36 is adjustablymounted on the strap-ends 26 and 28 of the bars.

The `intake assembly comprises a suction con duit30, as shown more particularly in Figures 4, `6 and7. The suction conduit or ,tube3iiv is adapted to extend transversely of the powered unit or tractor l2 Vand to Ybe adjustably supported bythe depending hanger strap ends of the bars and, 2 2. A longitudinal opening 40 is formed inthe lower portion'of the tube orconduit and is adapted to overlie the ground. .Similar tubes 42 and 44 are adjustably secured to the extending endsof the main tube or conduit 38 by means of lhinge* sections 46 and '48v cooperativelycarriedby the main section 3 8 andthe auxiliary sections 42 and 44., Connecting bolts` 50f a re` provided to secure ,the auxiliary sectionstofthe main section, asv shown ,more particularly in Figi ure f7 v Of course, runners or the like 52.are bracketed to the under side of the main yconduit and auxiliary sections for, spacing lthe v"same, in

ground contact and for enabling the suction conground` in close 'suction engagement with'the plant. f "j Opposedsupport armsg54 and 56 extend from 'the hanger support l28, upon which they are pivotally supported andare welded, as at 58, tothe forward portion ofthe main conduit'or Means is provided.forfpositively and conveniently adjusting the `vertical placement V,of l.the

main Ysuction conduit and ycomprises agpair of opposed operating levers 60andj62 whichV are pivoted, as at 66t01the 'depending hanger'. bars 28 of the bars 20 and 22; j Theoperatingl levers 62 and 60 extend `rearwardly vof the, support platform I4 Xand are adapted tobe secured vby` a in-A Figure 4. Attaching rings 68 `are suitably secured, adjacent Y. the.A extending i ends of the operating levers, and support adjusting means y'Nl and '12, such-as'chains, cablespor the like.

The adjusting chains 'I0 and Y 12- are vguided through rings 14 and 76 ,secured'on the' upper- .most portion of themain conduit 38-and spaced transversely thereon. VAn anchor rod 10 is secured to the transverse rod.32 and the opposite A pair of connecting band bars 20 and 22 are The bars 20 andV 22 havetheir |06 ofthe units 90 and'92. V-' Ihe means preferred endsof theV chains 'l0 and 'IZ'a'reAsecured thereon. 5.7.5

. r attaching bars and 8| are adapted to be secured to the rear hubs of a tractor or to any desired rear portion thereof by bolt assembly, thus rendering the same easily attached and detached to the tractor.

Mounted on the bars 20 and 22 in transverse fashion are, channel bars 82, 84, and 86, the same serving as a base or support for the blower burner units.V The blower Vburner units and 92 are adjustably mounted on the channel bar 86 by-means'ofbolts adjustablyreceived in slots formed in'the channel bar, and .are poweredoff the crankshaft'of the tractor toxproduce a suction in thesuct'ion conduitand thereby remove or pick-thein'sects from thev plants. In this respect, vertical attaching tubes.l 06a're formed integrally with the suction tubes 38,.42 and-44 and are adapted to receive a pluralitycof communicating Atubes 08.. The tubes 08 are attached to the blower burner units 60 and 92; The'b'lower burner units 90"and 92 'comprise a cylindrical housing |00, having a closed end and `an open extending end. The open end is 'adjustably closed bya handled damper |021pivotally' secured to' an edge portion of the open end for pivoting and sliding movement over "thate'nd', so'that the in take of air Yinto the blower burner unit is "con' trolled selectively, as seen best in Figure 3.V *The damper isprovided with a handlel03. A l'-\,otatably mountedfwithin the cylindrical' casing- |001are a 'series ofl unitary lblad'es"""|04, which '-define'ithe blowers. The blades aref'mbunted radiallyonf an extending shaft |06, which extends 'orf projects forwardly beyond the casing, as' seen inlFigure 2 of the drawings. A pulley |08 is'keyed 'on the extending ends of the shafts and retained thereon vbya lockingl nut ||0. A bearing standard 5| I2 is centrallymounted on the support bar '84 and rotatably retains a drivingshaft Il 4.- Thus, theV driving'r shaft I I4 is centrally' disposed between the lblower burner units90- and 92 and is adapted toqsimultaneously drive the blowers |04 :comprisin'g the units.v Thus, suitable'means /pr'ovidedforconnecting the driving shaftrl'lfwith theysimilarly formed and opposed drivenL shaft comprises a belt ||8` which;isreceived around a pulley |20 secured on-the Yrearwardly"projectingfend of the drivinggshafti I4, and communitcated with the pulley I08'p'f the shaft |06. vThe driving shaft I|4 has a pulleyA |22. securedfon the opposite ends thereof andis jcomm'unicated by a connecting belt :|24 Vwith a `pulley1|26. received on the ,extendingv end of alongitudnal driving shaft ,Y I 28. The l longitudinal` shaftI 28 is bracketed lto,the side of the tractor by, mea.ns

of bearing brackets |30, I 32 secured to theside adjacent the rear V and medial portionsv respectively. The shaft- |28s.rotatably mounted-, i n

the bearing brackets and its forwardY end. is

supported by asimilar bracketV |34; -A .pulley |36 is secured on the v.forward end of the-shaft I28'by a locking nut |38. -The pulley |36-communicates with the crankshaft |40 of 'the vtractor through the medium of aconnecting. bellini@- Thus, it can'be seen 'that rotation 'imparted to the longitudinal shaft |28 through the medium ofthe crankshaft |40 is .transmitted tothe driving "shaft |14 through. the medi-um of the .communicating belt |24., Accordingly, the-'blowers |04 mountedin the casing, adjacent the'sides ofthe ,tractor and extending rearwardly therefrom kon :the yplatform |4, are. operatively associatedwith the crankshaft andpowered therefrom.'

Afsuitable means is provided to enable the driver or operator of the tractor 'to controlthe workingoperations of the blowers. Thezmeans :preferred comprisesA a clutch assembly 1| 4B. The lclutch assembly |46 comprises., an extending ratchet .1.48, which .is welded, asiat |50,;,t' A:the 'bearing .bracket or arm |30. Anoperating .lever |54 is pivoted as at |52 to the ratchet bracket. A pulley |56 is rotatably supported by the lever |54 in potential engagement with the belt |24. A pawl |58 is pivoted to the lever and adapted to selectively engage the ratchet. `Operating linkage |60 is adapted to effect the desired engagement of the pawl with the ratchet. Thus, it can be seen that a certain amount of slack is provided in the belt |24, and, accordingly, until the pulley |56 is moved into tightening engagement with the belt, the same is inoperative. When the belt is inoperative, rotation from the longitudinal shaft |28 is denied the operating or driving shaft H4. However, movement of the lever |54 produces a tightening effect on the belt |24, caused by the engagement of the belt with the tightening pulley |56 and, accordingly, power is transmitted to the driving shaft ||4 and to the blowers |04.

Means is preferably provided for exterminating the bugs or insects drawn up through they tubes or hoses 98 into the cylindrical casings |00 by the blowers |04 and comprises a pair of burner units |62 mounted within the casing adjacent to the blowers |04. The burners |62 comprise an apertured shell |64, within which is concentrically disposed a burner tube |66. The burner tube |66 communicates with a fuel reservoir |68 and disposed on the channel bars 82, behind the casings |00. The communicating means preferably includes a flexible hose |12 or the like feasible medium. In this regard, it can be seen that the insects drawn into the casing by the blowers are burned or exterminated through the heat given off from the shell |64 and permeating through the apertures disposed in the Walls thereof.

Outlet tubes or conduits |14 areoffset from and communicated with the blowers |04 and are adapted to convey the exterminated bugs or insects and project them back onto the ground.

At times, it may be found desirable to provide means for raising and lowering the auxiliary suction tubes 42 and 44, which are hingedly attached to the main section 30. This may be found desirable and necessary in order to enable the attachment I2 to be moved through a driveway or pasture entrance, or the like entrance and exit. In this respect, a T-shaped bracket |16 is mounted on the channel bar 86 and extends vertically therefrom. Sheaves |18 and |80 are rotatably fixed on the crossed portion of the bracket. Adjusting cables or ropes, or the like, |82 and |84 are guided in the sheaves and extend to eyelets or hooks |85 and |90 formed adjacent the ends of the auxiliary units and extending vertically therefrom. An anchor |92 projects from the platform |4 and serves to retain the free ends of thelcables-as seen 'in Figure f3; :To rigldify the' auxiliary sections vin' their-operative vvandilowbeing responsive to the movement of the tractor" or powered unitover the'ground.

-' i'Hovveven-since many .other purposes and objects of this invention vwill become apparent .t0

those skilled in theart, upon a perusal of the description and drawings, it is to be understood that certain changes may be effected thereon, as coming `within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. An insect exterminating apparatus comprising a wheel mounted support, a platform secured to and projecting from one end of the support, a blower unit provided with a suction inlet mounted on said platform, a burner disposed in said suction inlet, a fuel reservoir mounted on the platform and connected to the burner, a conduit transversely carried by the platform and adapted to be positioned adjacent the ground, said conduit having a longitudinal slot in lits under side, flexible tubes connected between the upper portions of the conduit andsaid suction inlet, means for adjusting said conduit in a vertical plane, and conduit means connected to the exhaust side of the blower unit for conveying insects picked up by the conduit and conveyed to the blower unit and disintegrated back to the ground. l

2. An insect exterminating apparatus comprising a vehicle including a support and a power take-off shaft. a platform secured to and projecting from one end of the support, a blower housing mounted on the platform, an impeller rotatably journalled in said housing and driven by the power take-off shaft, a conduit extension on said housing in advance of the impeller, a burner in said extension, a fuel reservoir mounted on the platform and connected to the burner, and a conduit supported by the platform and adjustably suspended transversely therefrom, said conduit having a longitudinal slot in its under side and flexible tubes connected between the conduit and the conduit extension.

3. An insect exterminating apparatus comprising a vehicle including a support and a power take-off shaft, a platform secured to and projecting from one end of the support. a blower housing mounted on the platform, an impeller rotatably journalled in said housing and driven by the power take-olf shaft, a conduitextension on said housing in advance of the impeller, a burner in said extension, a fuel reservoir mounted on the platform and connected to the burner, a conduit supported by the platform and adjustably suspended transversely therefrom, said conduit having a longitudinal slot in its underside and flexible tubes connected between the conduit and the conduit extension, and a second conduit extension laterally extending from the housing at the exhaust side of the impeller for conveying insects disintegrated by the burner to the ground.

4. In an insect exterminating apparatus, a support,sa combined blower and burner unit mount/ed .Y f STATES PATENTS, A onthe'fsupport, lbrackets extending ldovsmwatrdly Number vName Date fromthe support, a pair, of support barspivotally ,1 533,577 Amger Feb, -5, ,-1895 secured to said brackets, a conduit having a. long- ,986,193 Meek f f Mar, 17,--.1911 tudinalopening secured transversely ktotll yends 5 1,145,637 -V 12,111,1,011 v July 13,1915 of the supportY bars, vadjusting bars :pivotally 111397120, Morrow 'Ju1yv4-, 1916 afx'ed Aat one of their ends to said brackets..ar1d 1,263,312.l ,Y 4 Diserens Apr.i16, 1918 vexilolemembers secured to the platform and ad- 425,234 Weiss v Aug, 15 1922 justinglbars, andv sai members being sldably 11,154,151 Brown v May 8,' 1923 attached to sald condult. l0 1,462,361 Jordan July 24,1923 c 1 1,569,196 McDaniel Jan. 12. 1926 CLAUDE DILLQN- 1,886,369 Bogart.; NOV- 3 1932 v l r 2,037,998. Norqui'st Apr. 21,:1936 REFERENCES CITED v2,161,923 Lamer Aug.' 1, 1939 The-following references are of. record in the 15 A2,201,463 J :Williams May. 21,1940

111e fof this patent: v 1 Y v2,396,533. Y1=a00t V 1Mar.12.'1946 Y `:1,467,594:V Nichols Apr.19;1949 

